Monday, February 4, 2013

What Does Phil Mickelson’s Win Mean for the History of Golf?

Article written by Phil Oscarson - Guest Poster

Serious golf fans may remember how, back in 2005 and 2006,
the debate of who the best golfer in the world was centered on two names: Tiger
Woods and Phil Mickelson. It seems absurd; now, that people considered Phil
Mickelson to be even close to the same level as Tiger Woods but back then the
argument was made seriously. For Tiger the debate was nothing new. From almost
the beginning of his career people began comparing him to the second best
golfer in world and posing the question of who was better.

It happened with
David Duval then Sergio Garcia and then it was Phil’s turn. As golf fans, we
sensed greatness in Tiger but that wasn’t enough for us. We wanted someone that
could almost rival his greatness and thereby give us great golf shootouts,
unbelievable comebacks and winning putts on the 18th green. In short we wanted
an Arnold Palmer to Tiger’s Jack Nicklaus.

Unfortunately, Tiger’s rivals came and went giving us
moments of drama but not the year-in, year-out struggle for preeminence that
would cement this time as golf’s golden age, an age of giants. David Duval
played amazingly well between 1997 and 1999, winning eleven of thirty-four
tournaments and for a brief moment taking the top spot in the world rankings
but then he unexpectedly disappeared.

Sergio Garcia stormed into the golf world by finishing
runner-up to Tiger at the 1999 PGA Championship. In 2000 he was chosen as
Tiger’s match up in the much-anticipated Battle at Bighorn and surprised
everybody by winning. At the age of 21 Garcia was chosen as the youngest player
ever to participate in the Ryder Cup. It seemed that Garcia would be able to
act as the perfect rival to compliment Tiger’s growing legend but then nothing
really happened. Garcia managed to remain one of the world’s top-10 players but
never really contested Tiger for the title of Greatest Golfer. To date Garcia
has won eight tournaments on the PGA Tour, Tiger has won seventy-five.

Phil Mickelson emerged next but there was something
different about him. Between 2004 and 2006 Phil won 3 majors (and nearly won
three in row). For once there was a player that was playing on a level that
only Tiger had seemingly reached before. Mickelson isn’t only successful in
majors, however. To date he has won a very respectable forty-one tournaments on
the PGA Tour. Sadly Mickelson was not able to maintain the level of play that led
to his incredible run in 2006 and so, for the most part, the golf world had to
admit that no one would be able to adequately fill the role of being Tiger’s
chief rival.

Now in 2013 Tiger Woods appears to be making a comeback. His
quest to become the greatest golfer of all time had seemed certain until the
scandal broke out in his personal life. Now he is winning again and people have
started wondering.

With all of this in mind it seems very fitting that just a
week after Tiger won his historic 75th tournament, that Phil Mickelson would
show up at the Phoenix Open and play possibly one of his greatest four rounds
of golf ever. The way that Phil Mickelson was driving the ball and putting were
once again at a level that nobody not named Tiger has ever reached. His
performance was important for a number of reasons but most of all it should act
as an indication that when we look back on this era of golf a few decades from
now we might realize that Phil Mickelson really was Tiger Wood’s Arnold Palmer.

About the Author:Phil Oscarson is an avid golfer and golf analyst. Phil currently resides in the greater Los Angeles area, because that’s the best weather for golf. You can find what you’re looking for in the golf world by going to AmericanGolf.com.